REPORTING LIVE FROM THE NEWSROOM, JAYNE MILLER, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS. A FIRESTORM SWEEPING THE NATION ON THE HEELS OF A NEW GOVERNMENT REPORT THAT SUGGESTS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE COULD COME AT THE EXPENSE OF AS MANY AS ONE MILLION AMERICAN JOBS. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS ARTIE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO RAISE THE WAGES OF FEDERAL ORDERS TO $10.10 PER HOUR. GOING BACK TO THE IDEA OF BASIC ECONOMICS, YOU RAISE THE COST, YOU WILL DO LESS. EMPLOYERS WILL HIRE LESS PEOPLE. OTHER FINANCIAL EXPERTS SAY IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE AND ARE QUESTIONING THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EMPLOYMENT LOSS ESTIMATED -- ESTIMATE CITED IN THE REPORT. MAKING ROUNDS IN ANNAPOLIS WHERE MARYLAND LEGISLATORS ARE GRAPPLING WITH THE PROPOSAL. DAVID COLLINS JOINS US FROM THE STATEHOUSE. HE HAS MORE. WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IS THIS MAKING, IF ANY? SURPRISINGLY SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE NOT PHASED BY THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF JOBS. THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME SO COMPLICATED WITH SO MANY CONFLICTING ARGUMENTS. THE NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ANALYSIS FINDS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE COULD LIST 900,000 WORKERS OUT OF POVERTY BUT COST 500,000 JOBS. BIKES WHILE JOB LOSSES PREDICTED WHEN YOU RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE, IT DOES NOT COME TO TASK. THE REPORT PROVIDES AMMUNITION TO BOTH SIDES IN A HEATED POLITICAL DEBATE, ONE THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW PARTY LINES. I THINK WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS SENSITIVE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE SENATE ONCE THE HOUSE TO TACKLE THE ISSUE FIRST. THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP JUST CONSIDERED A WORK GROUP. THIS INCLUDES WHAT TO DO ABOUT EMPLOYEES AND LETTING JURISDICTION SET THEIR OWN RATES AND INCREASING TO INFLATION. FOR NOW THEY APPEAR TO BE CONSIDERING SOMETHING LESS. I THINK IT IS A HUGE CONCERN OR THAT IS THE ISSUE ARE BALANCE WE ARE TRYING TO STRIKE. YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT STRIKING A BALANCE. ONE ISSUE THAT COMES UP IS A COMBINATION OF RAISING THE MINIMUM SLIGHTLY AND MAKING A LARGER REFUND AVAILABLE. THIS WILL BE DONE BY INCREASING THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT. WE BELIEVE AN INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE WILL HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS. A MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET A BALANCE AND STRIKE IT RIGHT. THE MINIMUM WAGE WORKGROUP MADE